Pence says Missile Defense is Essential to US

Washington (AP) - Vice President Mike Pence says missile defense is essential for the national defense of the United States.

Pence stopped in Anchorage, Alaska, on Monday to visit missile defense facilities that monitor and could respond to a launch by North Korea. The vice president is on his way to Japan and then South Korea for the Winter Olympics.

Pence received a briefing with U.S. Northern Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. He touted the coming deployment of an additional 20 ground-based interceptors that would respond to launch.

Pence is leading the U.S. delegation to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.